The 1998 Daytona 500, the 40th running of "The Great American Race", was run on February 15, 1998. It is memorable in that it marked Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona 500 victory after 19 previous attempts and many heartbreaking finishes. Not only was it Earnhardt's 20th 500 start, but also CBS's 20th consecutive live broadcast of the Daytona 500. Also, his long-awaited Daytona 500 win snapped a 59-race winless streak dating back to Atlanta Motor Speedway in March of 1996.

The race was remarkably clean for a restrictor plate race. There were only three cautions - all of which were for minor incidents (as well, there were no accident-related retirements), and there was a pit stop incident that involved Dale Jarrett, Jeff Burton and Derrike Cope but no caution was waved. The race was run under the green flag for the first 125 laps. This resulted in it being the third-fastest Daytona 500 ever, behind the 1980 Daytona 500 won by Buddy Baker, and the fastest of the restrictor plate era.

The race

Caution #1

In the mid stage of the event, green flag pit stops were still in progress with Jeff Gordon leading, and were on pace of breaking the average speed of 1980. Then Ward Burton cut down a tire leaving debris on the track, thus bringing out the first caution.

Caution #2

Late in the race with a possibility of another green flag stop, John Andretti and Robert Pressley made contact and spun together in turn 2. Which led to the final stops. Dale Earnhardt came out first, Michael Waltrip had a penalty after running over a hose while pitting, thus held back at the rear of the pack.

Lap 198 (Caution #3)

Dale Earnhardt led Bobby Labonte and Jeremy Mayfield heading into turn 2. Lake Speed and John Andretti, who already was spun out at the same corner, got together and both cars spun, setting up a scenario where Earnhardt, Labonte, and Mayfield were all in contention for the win. With 1½ laps, the three came up on the lapped car of Rick Mast. Earnhardt easily passed Mast on the outside. Labonte lost Earnhardt's draft while Mayfield sped to the inside of Mast. Earnhardt led Labonte and Mayfield, who were side by side. Earnhardt took the white and yellow flags in first while Labonte edged Mayfield for second by a fender. The race would end under the caution flag.

Quotes

"Jean Shepherd once said, 'If horse racing is the sport of kings, then auto racing; this furious, and sometimes brutal game, is the sport of friends. New, or old; come along, friend, and enjoy the Great American Race!'"—Ken Squier during CBS's prerace broadcast.

"Earnhardt uses the lap car of Rick Mast to them as the pick...20 years of trying, 20 years of frustration, Dale Earnhardt will come to the Caution flag to win the Daytona 500...FINALLY!!!."—Mike Joy commentating the final seconds of the Daytona 500.

"Look, out on pit road! Every man on every crew has come out to the edge of pit lane to congratulate the man who has dominated everything there is to win in this sport, except this race; until today."—Mike Joy on the crew members congratulating Dale Earnhardt on his Daytona 500 victory.

"The most anticipated moment in the history of motor racing, Dale Earnhardt rolling into Victory Lane in the Daytona 500"—Mike Joy during the broadcast

"Dale was like a kid at Christmas, and there was a time where I just wanted to sit back and just watch him"--Larry McReynolds on Earnhardt's win.

"It took ten years off my life, if I had made that race, I would have lived another ten years"—Rick Mast on missing the 1997 Daytona 500 after making the 1998 race.

"The Daytona 500 is ours. We won it, we won it, we won it!" Dale Earnhardt in victory lane during post race TV interview

"The 20 year quest is over"—Ken Squier in victory lane after Dale Earnhardt's makes the entrance to victory lane.

"It will make the strongest man on earth cry when you win this race, it's really special.--Buddy Baker on Earnhardt's win.

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